Author Archives: History Goes Bump

Hinsdale House, Ep. 227

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A rather nondescript and falling apart farmhouse in Hinsdale, New York has been described as one of the most haunted places in the state. The house has a mysterious history and unexplained paranormal activity that eventually led to an exorcism being performed. Many families have tried to live in the house, but not many have stayed. The experiences of one of those families, the Dandys, was featured on a 2006 episode of “A Haunting.” Paranormal Investigator and co-host of the Curiosity Radio Show Tim Shaw joins us again to talk about this creepy location. Tim was actually featured on the Paranormal Lockdown episode about Hinsdale House. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Annji Taft and features Air Bombs and the Bermuda Triangle and This Month in History features Janis Joplin found dead.

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Legend of Lilith, Ep. 226

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Lilith is an enigma. Did she ever actually exist? And if she just was a mythological character, which description of her is accurate? Was she just the shunned first wife of Adam? Was she a demon hellbent on killing babies? Was she a demon in the form of a succubus? Was she a vampire? Or is she simply a model of feminist power worthy of worship in goddess religious practices? On this episode, we are joined by listener Jaime Burcham to explore the different theories on Lilith and get to the heart of the legend of Lilith! The Moment in Oddity features how Whitstable came to be and This Month in History features the premiere of The Twilight Zone.

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Asylum 49, Ep. 225

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The city of Tooele in Utah has a history of mining, industry and bloody conflicts. The original Mormon pioneers who settled here were not on friendly terms with the local Native Americans. Conflicts arose and much blood was spilled. Over seventy years ago, the Tooele Valley Hospital was built for citizens and military members stationed there. It was closed in 2002 and is now the home for Asylum 49, a haunted house attraction. When the owners of Asylum 49 bought the property with the intention of creating the attraction, they had no idea that their business would literally be haunted. And Asylum 49 is not just a little haunted. It is a lot haunted! The spirits here are friendly, chilling and malevolent. Join us as we share the history and hauntings of Asylum 49. The Moment in Oddity features the Chinese Guardian Spirit Zhong Kui and This Month in History features Tunnel 57 leading East Germans to freedom. Our location was suggested by Joe Tamulonis and Robert Foster.

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HGB Anniversary Special 3

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On this episode, we celebrate our three year anniversary. It’s been a wonderful journey! We have some new rewards for Executive Producers, which means more great stuff for them and we announce those changes on this episode. Last year, we held our first flash fiction contest to celebrate our special occasion and we have done it again this year. We share our two runner-ups and our three winners and read their contributions. And then Miranda Enzor, creator of the Spooky Little Halloween blog, joins us to talk all things Halloween and get us in the right frame of mind for our favorite holiday. As if we aren’t always in that frame of mind!

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Haunted Cemeteries 4, Ep. 224

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Many cemeteries have been designed to serve as parks. They have many features that we would find in large public parks like statuary, stone architecture, large trees, lush landscaping and beautiful flowers. For taphophiles, cemeteries offer a place of adventure and discovery, whether it is seeking out a specific burial plot or figuring out the meaning of the symbology we find there. For genealogists, cemeteries offer a way to track down ancestors and trace their movements. For historians, cemeteries are a giant story and record of an area. On this episode we are going to discuss cemeteries in general, including the architecture found there, the meaning of the symbols, the materials used and why we love them so much. We also will share the history and hauntings of a couple of cemeteries in Windham, Maine: Chute Road and Anderson, and Hookman’s Cemetery in Connecticut. Joining us on this episode is author and historian Annette Student. Listener Suzanne Silk suggested the topic of cemetery symbology and designed our Cemetery Bingo Cards. The Moment in Oddity features a Viking leader killed by a tooth in a severed head and This Month in History features the publishing of the first multi-page American newspaper. This episode is dedicated to Dannah Jones, gone too soon.

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Old Idaho State Penitentiary, Ep. 223

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The Old Idaho State Penitentiary was in use for over a hundred years and had more than 13,000 prisoners pass through the gates. As was the case in most prisons that were built in the 1800s, conditions were brutal with a complete lack of sanitation and ventilation. All variety of criminals were housed here and many were executed on the gallows that were set up first in the Rose Garden, and later inside the prison walls. Violent riots have had their place in the prison’s history. All of this negative energy seems to have absorbed into the sandstone walls and now reflects back haunting energy. Guests and employees claim to have experienced paranormal activity. On this episode, we are joined by the hosts of the Not Alone Podcast, Sam Frederickson and Jason Moitoso, to discuss the history and hauntings of the Old Idaho State Penitentiary. The Moment in Oddity features a bug spray that attracts Bigfoot and This Month in History features the first televised debate, which was the Kennedy/Nixon Debate.

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Culbertson Mansion, Ep. 222

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William S. Culbertson was once one of the wealthiest men in the state of Indiana. He made much of his fortune in the dry goods business and he became a very important part of the development of the city of New Albany. In was in this city that he built his dream home, the Culbertson Mansion. The mansion is beautiful and picturesque with the inside even more stunning than the outside. Artists turned the inside of the home into a colorful abode. Today, it is a state historic site that offers tours. William had three wives and one of them is believed to still be in the home in spirit form. A tragic fire has also left behind shades of former servants. Many guests and employees have had unexplained experiences in the home. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Culbertson Mansion. The Moment in Oddity features Dog Carrying Day and This Month in History features the birth of Agatha Christie. Our location was suggested by listener Melody Davis.

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Jerome Grand Hotel, Ep. 221

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The city of Jerome in Arizona sits perched above the beautiful Verde Valley on Cleopatra Hill. Today, it is considered an artist community, but it once was considered the “Wickedest City in the West.” Like so many Arizona towns, Jerome began as a mining town with a focus on copper. In its heyday, it was one of the richest mines in the world and was dubbed the Billion Dollar Copper Camp. Thousands made the town their home, from miners to prostitutes to lawmen. A hospital was needed for all these people and that is what the Jerome Grand Hotel started as, but in 1996 it became a hotel. Throughout its years, it has earned a reputation for being haunted. Many guests and employees claim to have had experiences. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Jerome Grand Hotel. The Moment in Oddity features Zarafa the Giraffe and This Month in History features the beginning of the Mexican fight for independence. Our location was suggested by listener Katie Hickcox.

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Kentucky State Penitentiary, Ep. 220

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The Kentucky State Penitentiary is known as the “Castle on the Cumberland.” The prison is perched along the Cumberland River and is Kentucky’s oldest prison facility. Construction on the facility began in October of 1884, headed by Governor Luke Blackburn after the Kentucky legislature passed a bill authorizing the construction. The prison officially opened in 1889. The worst of the worst have found their way to this place and male death row inmates have been housed here. And since 1911, 164 men have been executed at the penitentiary. Because of the deaths and the energy, the prison is reputedly haunted. Author and paranormal investigator, Steve E. Asher joins us to share the history and hauntings of the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Shelby Hammond and features the tomato as the Wolf Peach and This Month in History features French aviators Dieudonne Coste and Maurice Bellonte making the first non-stop flight from Europe to the USA.

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Arcadia University, Ep. 219

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Just outside of Philadelphia, in a town called Glenside, sits a small private university that is home to a castle. This is the second campus that we have featured with a castle-like structure and this one is also haunted. Grey Towers was once home to the William Harrison Family and many of them seem to still be here after death. The university that now sits on that former property is Arcadia University and it has a history dating back to the mid-1800s. Our listener Chris Klimovitz is an alumni of Arcadia University and he joins us to share his experiences at the university and the stories of haunting legends and experiences connected to the school. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Michael Rogers and features Skeletal Body Paint Rituals and This Month in History features PT-109 rammed nearly killing future President John F. Kennedy.

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